Marie Bellingham, a 46-year-old mother of seven from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, lost her life in a house fire on April 19, 2021. The cause of the fire, which broke out in the lounge area near the sofa, was most likely a candle, as concluded by an inquest.
Drinking and Smoking on the Night of the Fire
On the night of the fire, Marie had been drinking vodka with her neighbor, Claire Bailey. The toxicology results showed Marie’s blood alcohol level to be 257mg, more than three times the legal drink-driving limit. Marie was also taking antidepressant medicine and therapeutic levels of diazepam, which increased the risk of the fire starting and reduced her chance of escape.
Smoke Alarm Alerts Neighbor
Around 10:40 PM, Claire heard Marie’s smoke alarm going off and saw her neighbor’s home on fire. She immediately called 999, and when the emergency services arrived, they found Marie dead in her front bedroom on the first floor of the property. The cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning due to toxic smoke gas inhalation.
Locked Doors and No Cigarette-Caused Fire
The doors to Marie’s property were locked, and although she had been smoking that evening, cigarettes were not believed to have caused the fire. Evidence from the reporting scientist, Huw Turk, who investigated the scene, confirmed that the fire started near the sofa in the downstairs lounge area.
Marie Bellingham’s tragic death is a reminder of the importance of having functioning smoke alarms in our homes and the potential dangers of drinking and smoking. May she rest in peace and may her family find comfort in the memories they shared with her.
